We received The Great Latin Adventure level 1 to review for the crew. Because we were in the middle of another Latin curriculum, I was hesitant to switch to this with my kids. I didn’t want to confuse them with a different format and information. So this review is based solely on my own browsing of the material.
Overall I’m impressed with the quality of the lessons. The author, Katherine Birkett has done an excellent job in the teacher’s materials, giving background information, teaching hints, and explanations. She created this curriculum after finding something lacking in the other Latin curriculum she was using.
Latin Adventures level I can be used by students from 4th through 7th grade, making it a great choice for families with multiple ages. Some advanced 3rd graders could also probably handle a slower pace through the materials. Designed to be used 3 days a week, the teaching plan would not require a large spot in your schedule.
Each lesson begins with a grammar component, giving Latin forms and vocabulary as well. Each lesson also contains a section on Latin-English derivatives (words in English we get from Latin). This section is immensely practical for vocabulary and word root studies. Quizzes begin appearing in the lessons once students have covered enough material to make quizzes practical. Translation exercises with creative, interesting sentences are also included. All the lessons follow the same format, and the teacher preparation is minimal. In fact, anyone can begin to teach this without any background in Latin.
The teacher’s manual includes answers for all the student worksheets and they are exact replicas of the student pages, not just lists of numbered answers. I found this extremely helpful. I like being able to see the question/problem as well as the answer.
Both the student and instructor pages come three-hole punched, ready to be inserted in your binders—make them at least 1.5 inches.
Although we loosely follow a classical model of education, we sometimes struggle with the intense focus on classical mythology and false gods. This material contains few references, making it a great fit for families who wish to learn Latin while not requiring them to learn about false religions as well. There is a place for mythology in any course of study, but it is nice that she has chosen to leave it out of this, allowing me to decide when and how to expose my children to it.
The student book is $15.00 loose or $22.00 in a binder. The teacher’s book is $30.00 ($40 in a binder) and includes a CD with pronunciation helps.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Latin Adventures I for the purpose of review. These are my opinions only and I have not received any other compensation.
